Open to all?: Meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people nearing the end of life

Source: National Council for Palliative Care

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: ‘Open to all? Meeting the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people nearing the end of life’, provides a unique insight into perceptions of end of life care for the 22,000 LGB&T people who die each year. Many LGB&T people do not feel that end of life care services are open to them and are concerned that they will face discrimination and a lack of understanding from health and social care providers when they are dying. The report highlights that older LGB&T people may face particular problems, especially if they have not felt able to be open about their identity previously.

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Deaths from liver disease: Implications for end of life care in England

Source: National end of life care Intelligence Network

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: This report presents the latest data on place of death for those with liver disease and shows how this varies with sex, age, region, socioeconomic deprivation and place. It is aimed at commissioners and providers of end of life care, clinicians caring for patients with liver disease, and others concerned with providing quality end of life care for this patient group, including patients themselves and their carers.

Length of publication: 36 pages

Focusing on the needs of older carers at the end of life

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case study

In a nutshell:  A joint initiative which began in August 2010 between the Department of Health and Age UK aims to support older carers of people at the end of life so that preferred place of care and preferred place of death are achieved. Carers practical and emotional needs are addressed. The project includes the development of a toolkit which will be available to other organisations who wish to use this model.  The final report will be available in September 2013.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Palliative and end of life rapid discharge pathway

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case study

In a nutshell: In 2009 the University Hospital of North Staffordshire introduced a palliative and end of life rapid discharge pathway for patients in or approaching the terminal phase of their illness.  Discharge is arranged at the earliest opportunity, usually within days or hours.  It is already having a significant impact with around 45 patients a quarter discharged in this way. Unanticipated benefits include the development of strong working relationships between secondary and primary care,  new services being developed and the development of the role of clinical champions for every clinical area who help spread good practice (there are 50 at present).

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

End of life care training for paramedics in west Essex

Source: National End of Life Care Programme

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Date of publication: March 2012

Publication type: Case Study

In a nutshell: A hospice run training programme in Romford on end of life care  for paramedics has resulted in a reduction in avoidable hospitalizations. The training sessions cover subjects such as just in case boxes, medication, syringe drivers, GSF, LCP, PPC and general trouble-shooting.  One outcome has been an improvement in partnership working within the community teams.  Additionally, a booklet containing examples of best practice and examples of end of life care scenarios has been produced and is now carried by all paramedics in Romford.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Anticipatory care planning and integration: A primary care pilot study aimed at reducing unplanned hospitalization

Source: British Journal of General Practice, 2012, 62, (595) (e113-e120)

Date of publication: February 2012

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article reviews a pilot study in Scotland which aimed to provide anticipatory care plans (ACPs) for patients who were at risk of hospital admission. Patients’ wishes in the event of sudden deterioration in their health were recorded.  The pilot achieved statistically significant reductions in unplanned hospitalisation for patients with multiple morbidities and  demonstrates the potential for providing both better care as well as better value for health and social care services.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: Embase

End-of-life care pathways as tools to promote and support a good death: a critical commentary

Source:  European Journal of Cancer Care

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Date of publication: January 2012

Publication type: article

In a nutshell:  This paper challenges whether end-of-life care (EoLC) pathways facilitate the accomplishment of a ‘good death’. EoLC pathways are widely recommended as ‘best practice’. However there are concerns about the efficacy of care pathways with regard to their impact on patient care.  Further examination of two EoLC pathways reveals how biomedical aspects of care are privileged. Despite this evidence indicates EoLC pathways may facilitate a particular type of ‘good death’, especially one associated with the dying process and framed within biomedicine.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Acknowledgement: BNI

An electronic resource to support staff providing end of life care

Source: Nursing Standard, November 2011, 26, (12), p.41-46

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Date of publication: November 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: The End of Life Care Strategy challenges care providers to develop effective care in all settings.  Each care setting faces different challenges. One acute NHS trust decided to focus on the specific challenges of identifying and diagnosing dying patients in order to provide appropriate palliative care. They developed an electronic resource tool to aid prognostication and provide a single point of reference to help practitioners to improve end of life care for patients in the hospital setting.  This article reports on the results of a six-month pilot.

Length of publication: 6 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

The benefits of interdisciplinary practice in a palliative care setting: A music therapy and physiotherapy pilot project

Source:  Progress in Palliative Care, 19, (6), p.304-308.

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Date of publication:  November 2011

Publication type:  article

In a nutshell:  This article discusses a combined music-therapy and physiotherapy project designed to improve symptoms experienced by terminally ill inpatients.  The project used the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and De Morton Mobility Index (DEMMI)  prior to the start of the project and again at the end.

With the exception of shortness of breath, results from the ESAS indicated all symptoms on the scale improved as a result of group participation and mobility, as measured by the DEMMI, either maintained or improved.

The overall conclusions are that this project was beneficial for patients with terminal illness and further research is required.

Length of publication:  5 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement:  EMBASE

Quick guide to identifying patients for supportive and palliative care

Source:  Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Camden & NHS Islington

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Date of publication: October 2011

Publication type: Resource

In a nutshell:  Produced in response to requests from GPs,  this quick guide to identifying patients for supportive and palliative care has been developed by Macmillan Cancer Support, NHS Camden and NHS Islington.  4 refs.

Length of publication: 2 pages

Provision of palliative care services: putting policy into practice

Source: British Journal of Community Nursing 2011 vol. 16(8) p390

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Date of publication: August 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article discusses the outsourcing of primary care palliative care services to 3rd party providers to meet cost cutting targets. The author asks the question, “Does it matter who provides palliative care services as long as they meet the needs of the people they are there for?”. The author questions how the voluntary and private sector organisations will monitor and measure outcomes and how will they be called to account for the service they provide as poorly managed end-of-life care and bereavement can have a devastating impact on people and can lead to further problems.

Length of publication: 1 page

Some important notes: Please contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.

What are patients’ priorities when facing the end of life? A critical review.

Source: International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2011,17 (6), p.294-300

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: Review, Article

In a nutshell:  The objective of this critical review was to investigate what patients’ priorities are when facing the end of life. A methodical and explicit search was made of academic databases to identify key articles. These articles were then critically appraised and the data was extracted and anylsed using an appropriate methodology. Findings showed that patients wanted:

• to understand and accept their changing health status

• to retain some normality in life

• to be supported by friends and family

• to know they will be taken care of after the death

• good and trusting relationships with health professionals.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes:

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: BNI

No Dress Rehearsals

Source: National Council for Palliative Care

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Date of publication: August 2011

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Coming three years on from the Government’s End of Life Care Strategy, “No Dress Rehearsals” looks at how end of life care is measuring up, and finds that despite many examples of excellent end of life care there remain serious cases of neglect and ill-treatment and many people are not getting their end of life wishes met. The NCPC and the Dying Matters Coalition have requested a new deal is needed for people who are dying to ensure they are treated well and receive high quality care and support at the end of their lives.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes: For a copy of this report contact your local health Library. Follow this link to find you local health library.

Dignified end-of-life care in the patients’ own homes

Source: Nursing Ethics, 2011, 18(3) p.374-85

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Date of publication: May 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: This article describes a research project undertaken to illustrate community nurses’ experiences of the factors contributing to a good death in patient’s own homes. Factors identified include autonomy, integrity and safety.  Examples of ways in which care staff can help supply these factors and contribute significantly to a dignified end of life are provided.

Length of publication: 11 pages

Some important notes: Contact your local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to find your local health library.